Saturday, July 26, 2008

My week at a Glance

Well we just finished our first week without Nathan...and we survived. I can honestly say that we all really miss him. His friendship with Mike will never be replaced and we will ALWAYS be thankful that he was a part of our lives all these years.

Mary did well. She's very nurturing with Mike. In fact when I first asked her about staying with us and I told her why, she told me that "it's not Nathan's fault. It's because he's a man and he was never a mother". Of course, that made perfect sense. She takes her time with Mike and he seems to be doing well. He seems to respond well to her patience. I just need to get past the constant comments from Mary telling me how to care for Mike, and how things were done a certain way in "her Country" (Haiti). She has always been like this and I knew I would have to now deal with this on a daily basis, but I feel this was a small price to pay.

The kids finished their last week of working at camp. Next week they will begin their first week of doing "nothing" and this is usually where the fun begins. Courtney and Brandon each get on each other's nerves. At least tomorrow through Tues. Courtney's friend Emily who recently moved up state, will be staying with us. I'm happy for Courtney and glad that she will have time to be wit her friends. Brandon has been visiting his friend Jonathan who hurt his ankle and is unable to get around. I know he just hates going over there and playing video games all day (LOL).

My brother is sick, yet AGAIN, with CVS (cyclic vomiting symdrome) which he has now had about an every other week. This is the most he has had it for as long as I can remember. He will stay in his room for days just throwing up and not eating. He barely gets liquid into himself (in fact in the past he HAS had to go to the hospital for dehydration). It's a terrible illness which research says it's due to stress.

That's my week in a nutshell. I continue to pray that Mike remains stable so he can remain at home.

About Me

My husband Mike was diagnosed at the age of 36 with Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease. For almost 11 years, my children & I took care of Mike at home - until he passed away on February 28, 2012 at the age of 47. When Mike was first diagnosed, he gave me "permission" to place him in a nursing home, but I chose not to do that. With the help of my children, family &aides, I kept the promise to myself that I would keep him home until the "end". I began this blog about 5 years ago to keep family and friends updated on Mike's condition as he weathered some difficult health issues and hospitalizations. During the process, it became a method for me to vent about issues that directly effected us as a family caring for someone with AD. Nothing along this journey has been easy & I will continue to advocate & be the voice for all those patients who have been silenced by Alzheimer's Disease. NO ONE SURVIVES ALZHEIMER'S, the disease does not discriminate and I will do all I can to make a difference. My faith has been my strength and we have been blessed with MANY angels along the way.
Mike will always be my hero!